IAEA Rotates Observers at Zaporizhzhya NPP Amid Controversy and EU Warnings

For the first time, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has rotated its observers at the Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plant seized by the Russians without the consent of Ukraine and through the territory occupied by Russia.

According to Radio Liberty journalist Rikard Jozwiak, this is something that seemed impossible just a few days ago. A few days before, Jozwiak wrote that the rotation was likely to take place through the occupied Crimea without Ukraine's consent and despite the EU's warnings.

"Without the consent of Ukraine and despite the warnings of the European Union. A bold step for Rafael Grossi, who is seeking to become the next UN Secretary General," the journalist noted.

Rosatom also reported on the rotation of IAEA observers at the seized Zaporizhzhya NPP, accompanied by Russian military.

"The 27th IAEA observer team consists of three inspectors. Their task, as before, is to monitor and assess the safety of the plant, both operational and physical," the statement said.

It is also noted that "for the first time, the route passed completely through the territory of the Russian Federation under the protection of the military" of the Russian Defense Ministry and the Russian Guard.

The occupiers do not report the exact date when this happened, only indicate that the rotation of inspectors was supposed to take place a month ago, but it was postponed twice, allegedly "due to provocations by the Armed Forces of Ukraine." Rosatom also stated that the decision to rotate the observers was reached after "intense consultations, including a meeting held in Moscow in an interagency format between the directors general of the IAEA and Rosatom, took place in February.

The IAEA and Ukraine have not yet commented on the information about the rotation of observers at the ZNPP.

Earlier, journalists found out that both after the annexation of Crimea in 2014 and after the start of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the IAEA funded research by Russian scientists on the peninsula, despite the fact that the agency officially recognizes Crimea as Ukrainian. The investigation also refers to other documents confirming that the IAEA funded research by Russian scientists in occupied Crimea.

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